throne, and to the Lamb for ever." Their robes are as white as the light, being washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, and through him they have conquered, as the palms in their hands denote; yea, are more than conquerors, having crowns of righteousness upon their heads, which can never fade away. For grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. O what matter of triumph is here! A righteoufness abfolutely perfect, and everlasting! This greatly enhances all our high joys in Christ, that there is full security for their continuance. It depends on the faithfulness of God to his word and promise, fixed in his eternal counfels, and established upon immutable things. "Their righteousness is of me, faith the Lord, and mine is an everlasting righteoufness: Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner, but my falvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." The state of a believer is always one and the same on God's part. He may vary in his apprehensions of his state, but with God there is no variableness, or shadow of turning. He may be a believer walking in darknesstempted to doubt, he may pay too much attention to sense and feeling-may get into a legal spirithis evidences may be cloudedwhen outward things and providences seem to make against him, his faith may be fore tried, and he may stagger at the promises of God through fome fit of unbelief-the man changeth, but God changeth not. His mercies are fure mercies. They cannot fail: For they spring from the ocean of grace, and are streams which no created power can cut off: But they shall infallibly return to it again, and shall bring with them all the happy objects of his love. The Father chose them, and gave them to his Son, who has all their names written in the Lamb's book of life: For them he lived and died : And when he presents them at the laft day to the Father" Behold I, and the children whom thou haft given me," not one of them shall be wanting: For the Holy Spirit is by his office the Lord and giver of life to them, and in the day day of his power he enables them to receive Jesus, and to live by faith upon him, as members united to, and in fellowship with their glorified Head. This covenant of the blessed Trinity is unalterable, being ordered in all things and fure. All the subjects of its grace shall infallibly be saved, according to our Lord's promise, and accord ing to our Lord's prayer, viz. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand." Trusting to these immutable securities the heirs of promife are commanded to draw strong confolation, even to rejoice in Jefus with a fulness of joy; in darkness as well as walking in lightin winter as well as in fummerin adversity as well as in profperity -in death as well as in life; because he has all power in heaven and earth to make good to them every covenant engagement. And he will do it; for the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and shall come to Sion with fongs, and everlafting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and forrow and fighing shall flee away for ever. O thou most blessed God and Saviour, thou art the Lord our righteousness and our strength. I believe that the whole Ifrael of God shall be justified ONLY by thee, and in thee ONLY shall they glory. O let thy Spirit abide with me to increase in me this faith, that by fresh supplies of his grace I may be kept from going about to establish my own righte ousness, |